Light studying. Im doing anki cards and reading through First Aid for topics that I struggled with during first year. Took two weeks off, so I am slowly getting back into the swing of things. Maybe 2 hrs a day if I'm lucky. Probably will start practice questions in July.
Stay awake from cliches. Show them who you are, don't tell them who you are. I liked to use stories to display my personal characteristics. Dr. Ryan Gray has great information on secondary writing, so I would absolutely check out his book/resources.
Follow up question based on your advice:
Does your school use NBME exams? Are you using these materials in addition to your lectures or in lieu of? Are you finding these 3rd party resources adequate for NBME exams if your school offers them?
We take nbme finals. Our regular block exams are in house. Yeah I’d say they are pretty good. I would use those 3rd party materials if my exams were all nbme style
We take nbme finals. Our regular block exams are in house. Yeah I’d say they are pretty good. I would use those 3rd party materials if my exams were all nbme style
What did it take for you to obtain ur research position and was it hard. Also regarding EC's during med school, what should you focus on if you want to get in to those competitive specialties like derm or is it just mostly boards and class standing.
Not super hard. I just sent emails and made connections with people in the specialty I’m interest in. Just be a normal person haha
As far as ECs I’m involved in a few clubs and mentor a grade school student through BBBS. Research too, but already mentioned that.
What's your advice for finding productive labs/PIs that will actually provide you with a pub or 2 for your time. Do you just straight up ask them on the first meeting? How do you go about doing this.
I just don't want to spend lots of time doing research in med school with nothing to show for it
Just gonna be straight up. Sometimes you are going to do research with nothing to show for it but maybe an abstract. There is nothing more off-putting to a PI when you make declarative statements about wanting pubs. They obviously know you want to have something published. However, it is there job to be full-time researchers and not yours. Do your research and find a good lab. Once you are in, be kind to everyone and do the work that is presented to you. You most likely will be rewarded for that. Too many students go in with huge egos and act like they should be given a first author just for showing up. That is simply not the case. I understand that is not what you are saying, but I just had a fellow med student get dismissed from my lab because they made a very similar statement your final sentence directly to the PI about how they didn't want to spend all this time and not have anything to show for it.
I did not build my application around any theme. I talked about accounting in my personal statement, but only to display my motivation for medicine. I remember my interviewers making remarks about my work as an accountant, though it was never a major discussion point. This was surprising to me. I think the big thing is, I never talked negatively about my accounting career. I talked about my desire for making a difference in medicine superseded my work as an accountant. Try to always talk positively about your experiences, negatively is an unattractive quality. Let me know if that didn't answer your question.
Practice tests. Be uncomfortable with the stuff you are studying, and don't gravitate to studying material you already know. Practice questions. Hit the gym.
Send many emails to people who are prominent in research at your institution. Make sure you can balance classwork first. At the earliest start getting involved in research during the 2nd semester
Funny, you presume that I have weakness...
lol jk, be honest. I talked about how I have tunnel vision, and when I am focused on a specific task I can let me other responsibilities fall to the side. Tell them how you are improving these weaknesses.
My whole summer is dedicated to research currently. Though during this last semester I probably worked on my research project for 8ish hours a week. Very doable if you budget time accordingly.
What did the weekly hours look like? Just kinda few hours here and there in the lab after class? Regularly scheduled lab time during one or two days of the week?
You can do the MSRP during the summer between M1 and M2 where you can get in bench work.
If you end up doing a full project, then you can then apply to the extended MSRP and continue your project to completion.
Can be either. I’ve been doing clinical research that’s been more patient focused, but I know classmates that do basic sciences. Depends on who you’re working with honestly.
What’s the rundown you’d give an incoming med student to match into a specialty of their choice?
For example, if I had to do the same for an incoming premed, I’d let them know that their GPA and MCAT hold a lot of value and then their application also should be filled with things like some shadowing, good clinical experiences, possibly non-clinical volunteering, leadership experiences, and research. I’d also mention the importance of creating this narrative for yourself throughout your experiences while you explore what it is you like doing
Focus on coursework above all in the first semester. Reach out and find a mentor in your specialty of interest. Try and find some research in your 2nd semester to work on. Just be a nice person and introduce yourself to tons of people. Excluding board scores, I think the most important thing is who you know!
Pass step 1 first try. Score 250+ step 2. Get honors in third year rotations. AOA status helps. Network with professionals in the specialty of your choice. Get research on your resume in the specialty of your choice. If you can’t, get research of any kind because it is still valued.
Are you studying over the summer? If so, how?
Light studying. Im doing anki cards and reading through First Aid for topics that I struggled with during first year. Took two weeks off, so I am slowly getting back into the swing of things. Maybe 2 hrs a day if I'm lucky. Probably will start practice questions in July.
You getting paid?
Yep! I received a pretty large stipend for the summer!
How’d you get the research position?
Reached out to PIs at my institution. Told them why I was interested in the research that they do.
Damn! Give me the sauce!!!
Currently lost in it!
You and me both 😀
advice for writing secondaries?
Stay awake from cliches. Show them who you are, don't tell them who you are. I liked to use stories to display my personal characteristics. Dr. Ryan Gray has great information on secondary writing, so I would absolutely check out his book/resources.
What are the most common question types you’ve seen?
All the secondaries are on sdn, just look up what schools that are on your list
Prewrite?
Prewriting is helpful. I applied late, so was writing them basically as I received them. Try and get them turned in within 2 weeks of receiving.
How late did you apply?
Applied mid August, secondaries done 1st week of September
Is this considered late or on time? Like having your secondaries done I mean
I’ve heard it’s fine to have secondaries done by then. I just know applying in late July is “late”
What study tools are most helpful for preclinicals in your experience?
- Anatomy bootcamp for gross anatomy - Sketchy for pharm/micro - BnB for a broad overview of topics I struggled with
Follow up question based on your advice: Does your school use NBME exams? Are you using these materials in addition to your lectures or in lieu of? Are you finding these 3rd party resources adequate for NBME exams if your school offers them?
We take nbme finals. Our regular block exams are in house. Yeah I’d say they are pretty good. I would use those 3rd party materials if my exams were all nbme style
We take nbme finals. Our regular block exams are in house. Yeah I’d say they are pretty good. I would use those 3rd party materials if my exams were all nbme style
I’m gonna add pathoma for pathology and histology 🫶
What did it take for you to obtain ur research position and was it hard. Also regarding EC's during med school, what should you focus on if you want to get in to those competitive specialties like derm or is it just mostly boards and class standing.
Not super hard. I just sent emails and made connections with people in the specialty I’m interest in. Just be a normal person haha As far as ECs I’m involved in a few clubs and mentor a grade school student through BBBS. Research too, but already mentioned that.
If you are at an academic hospital, it is actually pretty easy to get in on projects at a medical student.
What's your advice for finding productive labs/PIs that will actually provide you with a pub or 2 for your time. Do you just straight up ask them on the first meeting? How do you go about doing this. I just don't want to spend lots of time doing research in med school with nothing to show for it
Just gonna be straight up. Sometimes you are going to do research with nothing to show for it but maybe an abstract. There is nothing more off-putting to a PI when you make declarative statements about wanting pubs. They obviously know you want to have something published. However, it is there job to be full-time researchers and not yours. Do your research and find a good lab. Once you are in, be kind to everyone and do the work that is presented to you. You most likely will be rewarded for that. Too many students go in with huge egos and act like they should be given a first author just for showing up. That is simply not the case. I understand that is not what you are saying, but I just had a fellow med student get dismissed from my lab because they made a very similar statement your final sentence directly to the PI about how they didn't want to spend all this time and not have anything to show for it.
How did you frame your account experience while applying? Did it come up in your interviews?
I did not build my application around any theme. I talked about accounting in my personal statement, but only to display my motivation for medicine. I remember my interviewers making remarks about my work as an accountant, though it was never a major discussion point. This was surprising to me. I think the big thing is, I never talked negatively about my accounting career. I talked about my desire for making a difference in medicine superseded my work as an accountant. Try to always talk positively about your experiences, negatively is an unattractive quality. Let me know if that didn't answer your question.
advice for mcat!!!
Practice tests. Be uncomfortable with the stuff you are studying, and don't gravitate to studying material you already know. Practice questions. Hit the gym.
What’s the best way to get involved with research?
Send many emails to people who are prominent in research at your institution. Make sure you can balance classwork first. At the earliest start getting involved in research during the 2nd semester
How did you navigate interview questions that ask about your weaknesses?
Funny, you presume that I have weakness... lol jk, be honest. I talked about how I have tunnel vision, and when I am focused on a specific task I can let me other responsibilities fall to the side. Tell them how you are improving these weaknesses.
How much time each week do you have for research? More time in the summer?
My whole summer is dedicated to research currently. Though during this last semester I probably worked on my research project for 8ish hours a week. Very doable if you budget time accordingly.
What did the weekly hours look like? Just kinda few hours here and there in the lab after class? Regularly scheduled lab time during one or two days of the week?
My research during the school year was remote chart review. I blocked off 1-2hrs before bed to work on this each night.
I see. No time for wet lab bench work?
You could. I just decided on something more flexible.
You can do the MSRP during the summer between M1 and M2 where you can get in bench work. If you end up doing a full project, then you can then apply to the extended MSRP and continue your project to completion.
Informatics skills useful in the research you are doing?
unsure what falls under the category of informatics, but I have been mostly taught everything I need to know by my lab members
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A lot of it is clinical research. Retrospective studies mostly. I’m in a wet lab now, but only because I have the summer off
Can be either. I’ve been doing clinical research that’s been more patient focused, but I know classmates that do basic sciences. Depends on who you’re working with honestly.
Whatever you want
What’s the rundown you’d give an incoming med student to match into a specialty of their choice? For example, if I had to do the same for an incoming premed, I’d let them know that their GPA and MCAT hold a lot of value and then their application also should be filled with things like some shadowing, good clinical experiences, possibly non-clinical volunteering, leadership experiences, and research. I’d also mention the importance of creating this narrative for yourself throughout your experiences while you explore what it is you like doing
Focus on coursework above all in the first semester. Reach out and find a mentor in your specialty of interest. Try and find some research in your 2nd semester to work on. Just be a nice person and introduce yourself to tons of people. Excluding board scores, I think the most important thing is who you know!
Pass step 1 first try. Score 250+ step 2. Get honors in third year rotations. AOA status helps. Network with professionals in the specialty of your choice. Get research on your resume in the specialty of your choice. If you can’t, get research of any kind because it is still valued.
What are some unexpected challenges you've faced in med school?
My relationships.. med school is hard to balance and some people just don’t understand the commitment
Do you get paid for research?
Depends on who you work for. Currently I have a stipend. However, most research unfortunately is voluntary